How to grow azalea from seeds at home?

Rhododendron is a wonderful plant of the heather family, which is not easy to grow in our northern latitudes. Rhododendron conquered many hearts with its luxurious and long flowering. Rhododendron is considered to be the "elite" among garden plants. After all, it has incredible beauty, sophistication and a variety of colors. With all the epithets addressed to the flower, it, in turn, has a wayward, capricious character. Is it possible to grow such a miracle at home, especially from a tiny seed? It turns out that yes.

Azalea propagation

Propagation of azaleas at home occurs, as a rule, in the following ways:

• seed;
• vegetative;
• with vaccinations;
• division of bushes.
• cuttings (more about how at home propagation of azalea by cuttings occurs, you can find out here).

For the latter method, an adult, with a large number of shoots, is used predominantly.

I would like to dwell on the not the most common method of reproduction - seed.

Experienced flower growers rarely use this method, because of its complexity and low productivity.

The main feature is the creation of the right growing conditions:

• the need to create a greenhouse effect;
• the presence of a special soil mixture;
• maintaining high humidity;
• constant lighting (from March to August, natural sunlight is sufficient, at other times artificial lighting is required).

Features of seed

What does it look like?

Like other representatives of the flora, the fruit with seeds in rhododendrons appears at the end of flowering. It is a five-leaved box with numerous seeds. Which opens, quite unusual, from bottom to top. The shape of the seeds resembles a stick, long and oblong. Size is very small from 0.5 to 2 mm in length. The color of the seeds is usually dark brown, closer to the black shade.

Photo

Next you can see a photo of the seeds:

How to choose the right one?

Of course, so that the seed cultivation method is successful, It’s important to responsibly approach the purchase of seeds. There are a lot of companies involved in the production and packaging of seeds. However, not everyone sells quality material.

Often, beginners buy seeds, paying attention only to the cost and a beautiful picture. Later, after landing in the ground, they get a sad experience.

Therefore it follows:

1. Purchase seeds in trusted, specialized stores. They can get qualified advice, there are certificates for the products.
2. Pay attention to the packaging, it must be durable, without defects, made of good paper. Labels should be well read.
3. Find out the number of seeds in a pack to know how much to buy.
4. Shelf life.

If you stock up on seeds for the future, it is important to store them correctly, in a dry and cool place. The shelf life of the seed in such conditions is 2-3 years.

Where to buy and can I order from China?

To date, there is no shortage of seed points of sale. There are even specialized stores that sell rare, exotic seed. I would like to add again that it is better to purchase goods in branded seed stores.

There are also many large garden cents, where you can buy seeds or seedlings. And also additional accessories for planting seedlings, soil, containers and more. This will definitely save time. For example, in Moscow it is the garden center Yasenevo, OBI. The price of seeds varies from 50-200 rubles.

No less popular are online stores. When there is no time to travel for shopping. Just without leaving home to order seeds and improvised materials. Managers can also advise over the phone. The price of goods in these stores is 100 rubles for 10 pieces, 200 rubles for 30 pieces. Also the cost of rhododendron seeds depends on the variety.

A large assortment and low prices are presented in online stores in China. You can buy rhododendron seeds from 26 rubles for 50 pcs, so this is with an additional bonus, in the form of free delivery.

Can I get it on my own?

An ideal option, of course, is self-collected seeds. In Central Russia, the seed material of rhododendrons matures successfully. Collect them in late autumn, certainly in dry weather. It is worth waiting for the seeds to turn completely brown, while the boxes may remain green.

In a dry and warm room they should be dried by putting them in paper boxes. A few days later, the boxes open, spilling the seeds.

Seeds should be clean without impurities, otherwise it is possible to rot, mold.

It is best to sow fresh seeds, so the percentage of germination is greater. A large number of seeds are formed on an adult plant. For growing on a non-production scale, such an amount is not necessary. Therefore, the seed ovary should be cut off still green so that the bush does not waste strength on them.

Choosing the best landing time

When to plant seeds? Sow seeds in the spring, March-April. At this time, air temperature gradually rises, daylight hours increase. It takes 10-12 hours of intense lighting, so when sowing seeds in February, you should use additional lighting, best of all, phytolamps.

How to grow at home?

The seed method of growing at home is the most time-consuming and longest of all possible. The time from vegetation to planting in open ground is three seasons. You will also need a warm, well-lit place in the house, plus the possibility of additional lighting, temperature changes. Consider how to properly propagate azalea using this method.

Inventory preparation

Immediately before the seed planting process, you need to prepare everything you need:

• containers for growing plants;
• scapula;
• soil mixture;
• drainage;
• transparent material to create a greenhouse;
• spray bottle with water.

All these materials must be pre-washed, disinfected. This will help preserve the plant sprouts, because, after all, the slightest effect on the shift can subsequently affect the adult plant.

Pot selection

In principle, any container of choice is suitable for sowing. Often used:

• low containers;
• plastic dies;
• glasses of yogurt;
• a variety of planting pots for seedlings.

The main selection criterion should be the size, which depends directly on the number of seeds sown. Since the process is long, it is better to choose one tank. Also Do not forget about the presence of drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. In their absence - do it yourself.

Suitable soil

In the garden market, there is a huge list of manufacturers producing earth mix for rhododendrons or for azaleas. If you do not trust the firms represented, there is always the opportunity to make the soil yourself.

It is important to know the components that prefer shrubs. In equal proportions mix:

• turf land;
• deciduous land;
• peat;
• humus;
• sand.

Pre-disinfect components, as well as add baking powder. As a result, the soil should be light, loose, moisture- and breathable, rich in minerals, and necessarily acidified. Ideally, pH is 4-4.5.

It is important that the soil before sowing the seeds is warm or at room temperature.

Sowing

How to plant azalea seed method? Landing Instructions:

1. Pour a drainage layer into the container for planting - broken brick, pebbles, small pebbles, expanded clay.
2. Pour evenly the substrate 1-2 cm below the edge of the container. Smooth the soil with a spatula, but do not tamp.
3. You can disinfect the soil by watering with a solution of potassium permanganate.
4. After drying, disperse the seeds with a thin layer, as even and even as possible, to facilitate the further process of picking.
5. Spread the seeds on the surface from the calculation - the distance between them is 1-1.5 cm.
6. Covering the ground with seeds is not necessary.
7. Spray on top with warm spray water.
8. Cover the container with polyethylene or glass.

When will the sprouts appear?

The greenhouse is located under average apartment conditions, with a temperature of + 20 ° С and bright lighting. Seeds germinate usually 3-4 weeks after planting. But there are exceptions, some varieties of rhododendron hatch in 7-10 days. Germination of azalea seeds does not occur evenly, stretches over a long period.

Sprouts are so small and weak that it’s hard for them to break through the “clothes”. At this point, they should be helped by spraying the seeds with an aqueous solution of Epin or Zircon, so that the shell of the seed will become softer and it will be easier to sprout.

Seedling Care

The most dangerous event is the elimination of the greenhouse. The seedlings were warm, and now they should be taken to a cool place. Optimal conditions should be + 8-12 ° C. Such hardening is necessary as a preventive measure for the appearance of future diseases.

It is important during this period to control soil moisture. Watering produces the bottom, sprouts are saturated with water, which is located in the pan of the pot. Thus, the root system is still stimulated.

Backlighting is also important. When the first leaves appear dive. Seedlings are planted before the cotyledons. The strengthened sprouts are gradually brought out onto the balcony for weathering and further hardening.

Growing problems

In principle, the rhododendron transplant is well tolerated. But if in trouble, this may be due to poor landing and content settings.

1. Leaves turn yellow, oppressed look indicates a lack of oxygen, minerals or improperly selected soil composition.
2. Frown leaves, signaling the owner about gaps in the content: low light levels, inappropriate temperature and humidity conditions, insufficient watering.
3. Short flowering also depends on the parameters in the room. This happens with low humidity, lack of nutrition, lack of life-giving moisture.

Further care

The plant after planting is unhealthy, experiencing stress.

At this moment, it is better not to disturb him, put in a warm, bright place.

Immediately after planting, the bush is watered with a solution of Epin or Kornevin, after which a pause is made for 5 days. And then update the irrigation system. The green mass must be sprayed daily with water. Maintain humidity 70-80%.

In this way, to grow rhododendron from seeds painstakingly, for a long time and very laborious. But if everything works out as a result, then this will be real happiness for the grower. A self-grown flower will become a real "pearl" of the home garden.

Watch the video: The Best Way of Growing AZALEAS. (May 2024).